Hello friends,
First post here, looking for unbiased advice!
My integrated DAC AMP died on me, and the local distributor is offering to import for me two models.
Unfortunately, none are locally in stock, so this is a 'deaf' purchase, I cannot listen to one or the other. I need to make an informed decision based on research and people's advice, nothing more.
So, I'm looking for precisely that: advice.
A bit of background if this helps in the decision making. The use scenario is this one:
As you can see, all my sources are digital, and here lies my main interest in asking these questions here.
Apparently according to reviews, specifically an answer from the author of a review in blog.son-video (to which apparently I need more posts to post a link to
) , seem to suggest that the H80 has a much better analog input. I have no doubt this is probably true, as the IDA-8 analog in is digitized. In that way, the IDA-8 appears to be more of a DAC with a good amplifier. The H80 seems, on the other hand, to be more of an AMP with an integrated DAC, focus spent more on the AMP.
So, if my needs don't change, what would be my best pick?
Will the (apparently) better AMP on the H80 be hindered by the fact that the IDA-8 has an (apparently again) better DAC if all my inputs are digital?
I understand that, from a growth perspective, the H80 seems more future-proof friendly, as I can later down the road buy a much better standalone DAC and hook its analog outputs to the Hegel's better amplifier... the other way around is a bit more limited as I could not buy a better amp for the IDA-8 as it lacks good analog outputs to an external AMP. But lets assume I won't change my needs in quite a while.
What do you guys think? Is the H80 really a better sounding device? Have you tried both?
Thanks for any advice and be kind if I'm missing something obvious. Thanks again,
Rafa.
First post here, looking for unbiased advice!
My integrated DAC AMP died on me, and the local distributor is offering to import for me two models.
- NuPrime IDA-8
- Hegel H80
Unfortunately, none are locally in stock, so this is a 'deaf' purchase, I cannot listen to one or the other. I need to make an informed decision based on research and people's advice, nothing more.
So, I'm looking for precisely that: advice.
A bit of background if this helps in the decision making. The use scenario is this one:
- Speakers are a pair of Totem Rainmakers, 4 Ohm, 30 -100 W, 87.5 dB/W/m bookshelves
- Use is for music / tv listening.
- I will hook into it a RaspberryPi3 running Moode OS for Hi-Fi audio files and streaming from Spotify to the USB-B port
- I will hook into it a Samsung TV via Optical Cable
- I will hook into it an Apple Airport Express for multi-room listening (not often used) via optical or analog depending on optical input availability (IDA-8 would have to be analog)
- The H80 could be brought directly, the IDA-8 needs to be imported, so the prices for both may be the same, so lets leave price out of the equation for now
As you can see, all my sources are digital, and here lies my main interest in asking these questions here.
Apparently according to reviews, specifically an answer from the author of a review in blog.son-video (to which apparently I need more posts to post a link to
) , seem to suggest that the H80 has a much better analog input. I have no doubt this is probably true, as the IDA-8 analog in is digitized. In that way, the IDA-8 appears to be more of a DAC with a good amplifier. The H80 seems, on the other hand, to be more of an AMP with an integrated DAC, focus spent more on the AMP.So, if my needs don't change, what would be my best pick?
Will the (apparently) better AMP on the H80 be hindered by the fact that the IDA-8 has an (apparently again) better DAC if all my inputs are digital?
I understand that, from a growth perspective, the H80 seems more future-proof friendly, as I can later down the road buy a much better standalone DAC and hook its analog outputs to the Hegel's better amplifier... the other way around is a bit more limited as I could not buy a better amp for the IDA-8 as it lacks good analog outputs to an external AMP. But lets assume I won't change my needs in quite a while.
What do you guys think? Is the H80 really a better sounding device? Have you tried both?
Thanks for any advice and be kind if I'm missing something obvious
. Thanks again,Rafa.
